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Experience put paid to youthful exuberance as Novak Djokovic ended Ben Shelton\u2019s American dream at the US Open.<\/p>\n
Djokovic, 36, halted big-serving 20-year-old Shelton\u2019s breakthrough run in the semi-finals with a 6-3 6-2 7-6 (4) victory.<\/p>\n
It was a defeat which will prolong America\u2019s wait for a first home men\u2019s champion since Andy Roddick in 2003 for at least another year.<\/p>\n
The gulf in big-occasion nous was apparent from the start, with Djokovic playing in his 100th US Open match and Shelton his seventh.<\/p>\n
Shelton was the youngest American man to reach the semi-finals since Michael Chang in 1992, Djokovic the oldest since Jimmy Connors a year earlier.<\/p>\n
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The Serbian was playing in his 47th grand-slam semi, and Shelton his first.<\/p>\n
\nThese are the kind of matches and occasions that I still thrive on, that inspire me to wake up every day and work hard.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Now Djokovic is one win away from a 24th major title and becoming the oldest winner in the Open era, surpassing Ken Rosewall who was 35 when he won the title in 1970.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, these are the kind of matches and occasions that I still thrive on, that inspire me to wake up every day and work hard,\u201d Djokovic said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrand slams are the most important, the ones that mean the most to me. Playing an American player is never easy and I had to hold my nerve. It was anybody\u2019s game at the end of the third set. I\u2019m really pleased with this win today.\u201d<\/p>\n
A poor service game saw Shelton gift Djokovic a break in the first set with three unforced errors including an ill-advised drop shot.<\/p>\n
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The youngster saved four set points on his own serve and had a break-back point in the next but was unable to take it as Djokovic got the first set on the board in 34 minutes.<\/p>\n
A double-fault gave Djokovic another break in the second as Shelton\u2019s unforced errors really began to pile up; by the end of the second set he had made 27 to Djokovic\u2019s nine.<\/p>\n
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Shelton gave the New York crowd something to cheer in the third when he twice retrieved breaks and had a set point on the Djokovic serve.<\/p>\n
It was quickly snuffed out, though, and Djokovic prevailed in the tie-break to book a 36th grand slam final \u2013 which is incredibly half of the majors he has competed in.<\/p>\n
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